snyder



lSept. 11, 1934.

c. E. SNYDER 1,973,021

INDIVIDUAL VAPORIZER APPLIANCE Filed Deo. 12. 1932 Patented Sept. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT n olii-ticle:V

My invention relates to a means for converting a liquid to a vapor and directing the vapor s is desired, as, for example, toward or on some 'part of a body or thing whereby the beneficial effects of the vapor may be obtained. The invention is applicable to many uses, such as medicinal treatments for colds and the like, 'wherein a vapor of a medicated liquid may be directed toward the nostrils or throat, treatments for the hair by steaming and other uses, Wherein the immediate contact of vapor is desired, and treatments of numerous other things involving the use of vapor.

My invention has for its object to provide a vaporizer that may be advantageously operated 'by an individual as is desired Without the usual collection of bulky and expensive apparatus and exercise of a great degree of skill. The invention has for its particular object to provide a container for liquid that may be subjected to heat from a heating element annexed to the con- 'tainen The container has a suitable handle whereby the whole unit may be easily and manually manipulated into positions or" desired application of the vapor generated on heating of the contained liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for directing the generated vapor from within the container outwardly in a generally concentrated and defined form so that the vapor may be given direction of projection towards an object or part to which it is desired to be applied.

A still further object is to provide means, located intermediate the source of vapor conversion and the vapor directive means, tending to prevent the escape of the liquid from the container. It is appreciated by the applicant that in use the vaporizer may be tilted or tipped tending to locate portions of the liquid in positions where, but for the means provided, the heated liquid might be forced outwardly causing injury and damage.

The invention has yet another object to provide an individual vaporizer appliance or" light weight, eiilcient design and novel and pleasing appearance that may be manufactured at a low cost and thereby making the ownership and use Vof such useful appliances within reach of a major portion of those persons appliances.

The invention consists in other features and advantages which will appear from the following description and upon examination of the drawing. Structures containing the invention may partake of different forms and may be varied in their details and still embody the invention. To illustrate a practical application of the invention I have selected an individual vaporizer appliance particularly adaptable for steaming in need of such the hair embodying the invention as an example of the various structures and details thereof that contain the invention and shall describe the selected structure hereinafter, it being understood that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The particular structure selected is shown in the accompanying drawing.

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Fig. 1 of the drawing illustrates a perspective View of the individual vaporizer appliance chosen for purposes of illustration and one o1 the many uses to which the appliance may be put. Fig. 2 illustrates a view of allongitudinal section of the vaporizer appliance.

The elicacy of treatment of the body with vapors of medicated liquids of various chemical content is well known in medical science and the effectiveness of heated water vapor on the hair to draw the hair into curl is appreciated by hairdressers and other applications of the vapor of various liquids in the treatment or renment of objects and the human body are readily acknowledged by those skilled in the art.'v Heretofore, the expense and difficulty of using and making vapors available to the average layman hasL resulted largely in a failure to use this highly desirable form of treatment. As an expedient and in lieu of liquid vapors, candles and punk of various kinds have been devised, but the smoke and fumes which emanate from chemical candles is often of an undesirable dryness and without the humidity most conducive to eiective treatment, as Well as possessing other undesirable characteristics. Still others have resorted to vapors as is produced in ka kettle or pan which procedure requires Wrappings or covers in order to conne the vapor to secure the greatest possible benefit. This method is found to be clumsy and ineflicient and often results in serious burns or application of vapor to parts Where it is not required or desired. l

A vaporizer appliance partaking `of the features of my invention is preferably of small and handy dimension and formed of sheet metal. A container for liquids from which the vapor is to be generated is provided and has a relling port which may be closed by a removable closuresu ch as a cork. The vcontainer has a heat insulated handle for ease and comfort of manipulation. A heating element is juxtaposed to the liquid container so that its change in thermal effect may be directly transmitted to the' contained liquid thereby increasing the vapor evolution therefrom. The heating element may be connected by a flexible cord to a source of energy thereby permittingmanipulation ofY the vaporizer during the continued application of heat to the contained liquid. If desired, a thermostatic control may be connected in the line to insure the automatic maintenance of a constant desired heat of the liquid.

An outlet or nozzle for directing the vapor as may be desired is connected and communicates with the interior of the container. The voutlet has a plurality of small openings which tend to emit the vapor in a dened and concentrated line of movement and thus permits of directed projection of the vapor to the point of application. The tendency of the vapor -to lbuild up slight pressures within the container by reason of the restricted outlet assists and contributes to this directive feature. I f

Intermediate the nozzle and the major portion of the interior of the container is located a baffle plate vhaving a plurality of inwardly extending teated openings. The baffle plate cooperating with thenozzle and interconnecting parts tend to prevent the escape of liquid through the nozzle as when the container is tipped or jolted, causing the liquid to splash. The teated openings `act to prevent movement of liquid therethrough towards the nozzle but .readily pass liquids fiowing towards the interior-of the contaner .and permit movement of .the vapor toward the nozzle. In the particular construction selected and i1- lustrated in the accompanying drawing, a container 1 is formed having walls 2 formed of sheet metaland a bottom3 and top 4. The container 1 may be provided with supporting legs 5 ywhich are .formed from .the skirt extensions 6 of the wall 2. The legs 5 are reinforced by interjoining web portions 7 which likewise contribute to the pleasing appearance of the apl pliance. The container .may be supplied with a hand-(gripping part 16.

liquid 10 througha port ll preferably formed in .the top 4. The port 11 may be closed .by .a stopper such as the cork 12. Thus, should a pressure .bordering ona dangerous degree beset upwithin the Acontainer 1, the `cork 12 will be pushed out of the port 11 to relieve the pressure. The .container is provided with a suitable handle'l `.which may be .connected to the walls 2 .of ,the `container and has a Vheat insulated Inprder to heat the liquid 10 .to increase Ithe generation of vapor therefrom, a .heating element ,1.8`is provided. The .heating element 18 comprises .a Wound electrical .coil 19 suitably insulated and supported by insulating blocks 2 0 belowand adjacent the bottom plate 3 of the container. Thecoil .'19 is .connected toasuitable source of energy bycontacts 2l and lead cord 22 which may be plugged into .an .electrical circuit in a manner well lknown .in the art.Y A heat insulating member is provided to `direct the heat given .off by the heating element toward the 'interior of the container land liquid 10. The v insulating member 25 is dish-shapedand maybe supported by .a .wall 26 which may be connected .to the skirt 6 in some suitable fashion. In order to Vprovide for` efficient assembly it is suggested that the heating element 18,

- blocks 22, 4and the heat insulating member 25 may -be all vconnected Aas' a unit to the'wall 26 and 'moved into position -as Vshown in `Fig. 2 against the bottom3 of thefcontainer.

In order to? direct the vapor Agenerated by heatingth'e liquid 10 from the container outwardly in amore or less concentrated rand defined .line iof emission, a spout 30 Vcommunicates with v.the container interior through an opening 31 formed in the top 4. The spout 30 is preferably formed to have a goose-neck appearance in longitudinal section having an inwardly bulging portion 32 at the throat. The restricted throat formed by the portion 32 tends toy prevent liquid climbing the walls of the spout toward and escaping into the snout portion 34 of the spout .and cooperates with other. parts to prevent the blowing and escape of the liquid 10. Thus, the vapor isdriven by its own tendency to expand upwardly through the spout through a path and in a direction generally indicated by the arrow 35 in Fig. 2. The snout 34 has a plurality .of small openings 36 which extend across the 'face ofthe snout and tend to spray and spread the vapor in generally a-fanwise form, asrshown in Fig. 1, whereby it may be directed as to the hair of a user.

In order to prevent portions of the liquid 10 from becoming located in positions where, due

to the slight pressure created in the container during the vapor generation, the liquid would be blown outwardly through the snout 34 and onto the user or in the direction in which the vapor is being applied, a baffle plate 38 is located in alignmentwith the spout 30. In the preferred form of construction, the baiiie plate 38 .is located over the opening 3l in the top 4. The baiiie plate 38 has a plurality of openings 39 which preferablyare surrounded by teated portions which extend inwardly toward the interior of the container 1. The openings 39 may thus be formed by punching the plate 38. The surrounding teated portions 40 of vthe openings 39 tend to prevent splashing of the liquid 10 through the openings 39 as when the appliance is being manipulated in actual use and also restrict the escape of liquid as may be induced by direct tilting. The baffle plate 38 cooperates therefore with the restricted throat portion 32 of the spout to prevent harm and danger `from the escape of the heated liquid 10. The openings 39 readily permit the passage of vapor into Y the-spout and the return vof condensate of vapor to the interior of the container. Preferably, the openings 39 most proximate to the walls 2 of the container :are located yat a definitely spaced position therefrom to prevent vsuch portions .of .the .liquid 10 as may climb along the walls 2 from. passing through the openings.

ThusI have provided .an individual vaporizer appliance which may be readily used having a pleasing rappearance and of handy size that may be manufactured at a .low cost.

I claim:

.An individual vaporized appliance having a container for a vaporizable liquid, an opening formed in the wall of the container for directing vapor .outwardly :from within the container, a heating .element located in heating relation :to the container, a plate located in controlling alignment with the said opening, the :plate hav-` ing a plurality of openings, each of said .plurality ofopenings being surrounded by a teated CLYDE E. sNYDER.

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